TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016

1. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF sustainable hydropower development in the Indian himalayaN REGION By Sanchit S. Agarwal, Ph.D. Student M.L. Kansal, JPSS Chair Professor D. E. Rheinheimer, Ex. Fulbright-Nehru Fellow Department of Water Resources Development and Management Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

2. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Sustainable Development • Development which meet the needs of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. • Three major domains of Sustainability– Economic, Environmental, and the Social considerations. Social Bearable Equitable Sustainability Environmental Economic Viable

3. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Importance of Energy Energy - a strategic commodity & a key factor to achieve various MDGs set by UN (India is one of the active members), such as to eradicate poverty, public health, education, gender equality, and environmental sustainability. India’s Population - 1.27 billion – second largest - Fourth in terms of energy consumption. - About 300 million people have no access to electricity. Annual per capita energy consumption India – About 1000 kWh Developed countries - 8,000-12,000 kWh. 12th Five Year Plan - GDP growth target - 8 - 9%. Require two fold increase in energy consumption in next ten years. Electricity for all by 2019 – is target set by GOI Source: Strategy for Providing 24 x 7 power supply, Forum of Regulators, December 2014

4. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 India’s Power Scenario Source: http://powermin.nic.in/power-sector-glance-all- Growth of Electricity sector in India, CEA, Ministry of Power, GoI, April 2015 Executive Power Summary, CEA, Ministry of Power, GoI, March 2016, June 2016

5. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Source: CEA Hydro Review, 2014-15 B.K. Bhatt, Small hydro programme in India, ICHPSD-2015

6. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Source: CEA Reports * In West Bengal, only Darjeeling district lies in Himalayan belt Total Hydropower potential in India: 1,48,700MW ; Installed Capacity : 42848MW (29% of total) Himalayan states include 79% of the total hydropower potential

7. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Stages of Hydropower Development Planning/Design Construction Operation

8. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Planning/Design Stage Soc / Env/ Econ Objectives Involvement of multiple stakeholders Changes in energy generation targets Economic Economic slowdown, change in value of currency may alter economic targets/budgets of the project Technological Technology chosen at this point may become outdated in future or may need to be upgraded Policy changes/ Political Change in government leading to new targets, Change in policies of existing government New projects in neighbouring countries U/S or D/S of existing projects

9. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Planning/Design Stage Soc / Env/ Econ Delay in forest clearances, technical approvals, environmental clearance Administrative Exact timing of occurrence of floods, earthquakes cannot be determined in advance • Chance element • in recurring events • Public response Initial analysis may support need of local upliftment through project development, however public maybe turn resistant towards the project in course of time. Source: Economics of Water Resources Planning, James L. Douglas and & Lee Robert R., 1971

10. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Social Uncertainties • Rehabilitation & Resettlement • Emotional loss of leaving hometown • Lack of compensatory benefits • Loss of places of cultural and religious importance • Impact of dam building on local environment Source: SANDRP

11. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Construction Stage Soc / Env/ Econ Uncertainty over rock quality, underlying strata Groundwater effect Geological • Unprecedented air, water and noise pollution • Effect on water quality, soil salinity Environmental • Increase in Interest during construction due to prolonged construction period • Cash flow disruption, delay in payment to contractor Financial • Heavy Rainfall, • Floods • Cloudburst • Hydrological

12. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 • Geological Risk • Geological surprises in young Himalayan terrain. • Alaknanda, Baglihar, Dulhasti, SubansiriLower,Parvati-II and Sewa-II hydroelectric projects delayed due to geologic surprises. Source: Styron et. al. 2010, U.S. Geological Survey, 2015

13. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Hydropower projects Damaged by Uttarakhand Flash Floods, 2013 5 MW Motighat, Pithoragarh 99 MW Singoli Bhatwari, Kund 400 MW Vishnuprayag, Alakananda, Source: SANDRP, Circle of Blue:Water News

14. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Construction Stage Soc / Env/ Econ • R& R issues • Clash between native people/workforce • Legal course by local people/NGOs • Socio-Legal • More delivery time in far off places • Route to remote locations more prone to accidents, landslides in hilly areas • Need for provision of basic facilities like health education, recreational to accommodate personnel • Locational • Termination of ongoing contract, • Delay in award of new contract, • Delay in purchase of material and equipment • Administrative Area prone to local agitations, curfew, terrorism • Law & Order

15. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Soc / Env/ Econ Operation Stage Unpredictable drought or heavy rainfall conditions Changing evaporation rates from reservoir Water Availability/ Climate Change Faults in electro-mechanical equipment, Effect of external grid faults • Equipment performance Reduction in reservoir capacity due to sediment deposit, Damage to equipment Sedimentation

16. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Sediment flow • Himalayas, most susceptible region in terms of natural erosion • 28-77 % of catchment area of river valley projects require priority treatment in the Himalayas. • 28-66 & sediment deposited in live storage of some reservoirs. • Loss of reservoir capacity in some reservoirs in India ranging from 2 – 60 percent. 330 MW Srinagar Hydro Project, Uttarakhand 280 MW Dhauliganga Hydro Project, Uttarakhand Source: SANDRP

17. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Soc / Env/ Econ Operation Stage Faults/damage to power transmission system • Power Evacuation New project in U/S or D/S of existing projects alters operating plans, water availability • Upcoming projects Delay in replacement of equipment, availability issues of skilled personnel in remote areas • Locational

18. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Concluding Remarks • India has immense hydropower potential, especially in the Himalayan region. However less than 30% has been utilised so far. • Hydropower development in the Himalaya involves substantial challenges that must be addressed for hydropower to contribute to sustainable development. • Main challenges include: • extreme geological and hydrologic risk • social equity issues (social acceptance, resettlement & rehabilitation policies) • financial constraints and uncertainties • environmental damage • statuary clearances (land, environment) • political uncertainties • Risk factors must be assessed in pre-planning stages by investors/decision makers to decide on realistic estimates of levels of social, economic, and environmental sustainability for new hydropower projects in the Indian Himalaya.

19. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 Acknowledgement Department of Water Resources Development and Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Programme, administered by the U.S.-India Education Foundation (USIEF)

20. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 THANK YOU Contact: sanchitagarwal.22@gmail.com